Wednesday, September 30, 1998 Last modified at 12:53 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 1998

Wayland honors Wilders

By RAY GLASS

Assistant Sports Editor

PLAINVIEW - Local residents Myrt and David Wilder were hailed as contemporary pioneers who make dreams come true Tuesday during a ceremony naming Wayland Baptist's new baseball field in their honor.

"A pioneer is anyone who goes beyond the dreaming of dreams and makes those dreams come true," Wayland president Wallace Davis told several hundred spectators gathered at The David and Myrt Wilder Baseball Park.

A financial contribution by the Wilders put fund-raising efforts over the top for the second phase of the project, which will include bleachers, press box, restrooms and concessions stands.

Tuesday's ceremony was held within the chalk outlines where spectator seating and the press box will be built. Work on that phase of the project is expected to begin in the near future.

"Today we're here to give a world of recognition and tremendous amount of appreciation to David and Myrt Wilder," Davis said. "They support all of Plainview. They are indeed rare and unique individuals."

The grass field, complete with fence, dugouts, sprinkler system and backstop, is complete. The third phase will include lights.

"Now I think we'll have a ballpark that everyone will be very proud of," said David Wilder, who urged the crowd to continue to invest in its community.

"One thing we have to look at today is to invest in youth and invest in education," he said. "Put back into Plainview what Plainview has given to you is what I encourage you to do."

The entire project will cost between $550,000 and $600,000, athletic director Greg Feris had said last week. The school is helping finance the project through the sale of lifetime permanent seats at $1,000 apiece and is more than halfway to its goal of 150 seats sold.

The Pioneers held an intrasquad game Tuesday following the ceremony.

The first official game for the new facility is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Feb. 11, 1999, between the Pioneers and West Texas A&M.